Ministering to Patients with "Diabetes Emotiva"

Through CUDA, several members of our mission team have been able to work with a local clinic doing diabetes screening and follow-up. One thing we’ve encountered here is the common belief that Diabetes is caused by an emotional trauma or stressful situation. Many patients have expressed that they have emotional Diabetes, or “Diabetes Emotiva.” This is something I’d never heard of before. The idea is very pervasive and even some healthcare providers seem to be propagating it.

The best scientific research suggests that type 2 Diabetes is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors such as obesity and sugary diet. Ever since we’ve been at the clinic, we’ve been trying to dispel the rumor that Diabetes Emotiva exists. The regional doctor over preventative disease at the clinic we work at has also expressed his wishes to correct this misunderstanding. I have always imagined we’re doing people a great service by saying, “no, your Diabetes wasn’t caused by your sister’s death and the depression you felt afterwards.” To me, it would be a relief to know that I’m not responsible for giving myself a chronic illness, rather that it is something genetic that just happens sometimes. The funny thing is, some people fight to hold onto the Diabetes Emotiva belief.

In researching the roots of this old wive’s tale, I stumbled upon an article that theorized something about Diabetes Emotiva that seems to make some sense. What it says is that chronic illnesses like diabetes often are absorbed into someone’s personal narrative and in their mind can become linked to trauma they’ve experienced. Talking about the disease opens the door to talking about deep wounds in their lives that otherwise would have no voice. If this is true, no wonder people want to blame the Diabetes on domestic problems, trauma, stress, and grief and will fight to hold on to that explanation. You can’t just open a conversation with, “my husband died and it is still affecting my everyday life.” But, unconsciously, you may rearrange the story so that any time your physical ailments are talked about, there’s an open door to finally talk about what you’ve been bottling up.


What are the implications for ministering to Diabetes Emotiva patients if this theory is correct? Do we still need to dispel the false causation beliefs? Is Diabetes Emotiva a direct inroad to discussing deep heart issues that there is only one cure for – Jesus Christ? I don’t have any answers right now but this is a theory I will be investigating in the upcoming weeks and months.

If you're interested, here's a link to the article I mentioned: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rebecca_Seligman/publication/44675221_Speaking_through_diabetes_Rethinking_the_significance_of_lay_discourses_on_diabetes/links/0912f50d09c6eb4ca1000000.pdf